Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01764’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01764’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; strong and flexible flowering stems; outwardly arching leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; dark purple-colored flowers with white-colored margins; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MI01764’.

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application,Microflor N.V. of Lochristi, Belgium on Mar. 25, 2022, applicationnumber 2022/0780. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘MI01764’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new freely flowering Phalaenopsis plantswith good leaf shape and relatively large flowers with unique andattractive flower coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in April, 2014 in Lochristi, Belgium of a proprietary selectionof Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00312, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPhalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00345, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Lochristi, Belgium in December, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristempropagation in a controlled environment in Lochristi, Belgium sinceApril, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsisplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MI01764’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MI01764’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsisplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Strong and flexible flowering sterns.    -   4. Outwardly arching leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per        plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.    -   6. Dark purple-colored flowers with white-colored margins.    -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis are taller than and not as        compact as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are dark purple in        color with white-colored margins whereas flowers of plants of        the female parent selection are purplish pink in color with        white-colored margins.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have smaller flowers than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are dark purple in        color with white-colored margins whereas flowers of plants of        the male parent selection are white in color with reddish        purple-colored spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsishybrida ‘Cha-Cha’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Cha-Cha’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis do not have stripes        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Cha-Cha’ are striped.    -   2. Lateral sepals of flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis        are ovate to lanceolate and asymmetrical in shape whereas        lateral sepals of flowers of plants of ‘Cha-Cha’ are elliptical        and symmetrical in shape.    -   3. Cirrhose tips of flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis        are longer than cirrhose tips of flowers of plants of ‘Cha-Cha’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘MI01764’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up viewof a typical flower of ‘MI01764’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn and early winter in9-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium andunder cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsisproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 18 C to 29 C and light levels ranged from 150Watt/m² to 375 Watt/m². Plants were 70 weeks old when the photographsand description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI01764’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida            identified as code number PHM00312, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida            identified as code number PHM00345, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine to ten weeks at            temperatures about 26 C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten to eleven weeks at            temperatures about 26 C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 to            160 days at temperatures about 26 C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 150 to            180 days at temperatures about 26 C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically grey green in            color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Small amount of branching; sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright            plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,            each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;            vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About            9.5 cm.        -   Plant height, substrate level to top of            inflorescences.—About 41 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 36 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about            seven leaves per plant.        -   Length.—About 19 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 cm.        -   Aspect.—Outwardly arching.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Unequal obtuse.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Close to 137A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully expanded            leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to            137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C;            venation, close to 137C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers            arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two            inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 21            flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences            supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals,            two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a            labellum and three sepals.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 16 to 17 weeks            after an inductive cooling period; flowers open about six            weeks after flower buds develop.        -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers            maintain good substance for about ten weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence            apex).—About 25 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 18 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 194C shaded with close to 187A            and venation, close to 187A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals            and one center petal transformed into a labellum.        -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 2.6 cm.            Shape: Trullate to deltoid. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire to            slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187A;            towards the margins, close to 155D; color does not change            with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 77A; towards the center, close to            155D; color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a            central lobe. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm.            Shape, lateral lobes: Obovate. Shape, central lobe:            Trullate. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe:            Slightly cleft with two short, narrow and recurved cirrhose            tips. Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,            moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at the base            of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral petals;            about 3 mm in length, about 3 mm in width and about 4 mm in            height. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:            Lateral lobes: Close to 155D; large spot near base, close to            187A; smaller spots in the center, close to 187A; and            smaller spots towards the apex, close to 78B. Central lobe:            Center, close to 155D; towards the base, close to 78B;            spots, close to 187B. Callosities: Close to 187A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Lateral and central            lobes: Close to 155D with colors of the upper surface            visible.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral            sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal:            About 2.7 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.7 cm. Length,            dorsal sepal: About 1.6 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About            1.3 cm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate to lanceolate;            asymmetrical. Shape, dorsal sepal: Narrowly elliptic. Apex,            lateral sepals: Bluntly acute. Apex, dorsal sepal: Obtuse.            Base, lateral and dorsal sepals: Obtuse. Margin, lateral and            dorsal sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, lateral and            dorsal sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,            velvety; matte. Color, lateral and dorsal sepals: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 187A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 77A;            center, close to 155D; venation, close to 77A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 41 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: Initially about            65 degrees from horizontal to mostly upright with            development. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 200A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 90 degrees from            peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Proximally, close to 187A and distally, close to            145C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 9 mm.            Column width: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Column color: Close to            155D slightly blushed with close to 78B. Pollinia quantity:            Two. Pollinia diameter (per two pollinia): About 3 mm.            Pollinia color: Close to 25B. Gynoecium: Stigma length:            About 4 mm. Stigma width: About 4.5 mm. Stigma shape:            Broadly rhombic. Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary length:            About 1.5 cm. Ovary diameter: About 2 mm. Ovary color: Close            to 145C; distally, slightly blushed with close to 80C. Seeds            and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have not            been observed on plants of the new Phalaenopsis.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis    have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15 C to about    40 C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI01764’as illustrated and described.